14K needs rhodium plating faster than 18K?

[fabcrab]

Hi everyone,

Do 14K WG tend to get "yellower" faster than 18K? The reason I''m asking is my engagement ring is 18K and my wedding band is 14K WG and I was at the jewelry store for fun today looking at Tacori and the sales person asked if my wedding band was YG!

I''ve only been married a year and I''ve had my ering longer and my band is noticably more yellow. Any thoughts? Is the quality of my wedding band just happen to be bad? Thanks!

 

[milton333]

I don''t know if there is an 18k/14k difference, but I think a year is a long time to go without replating. Anecdotally, it seems like 6-9 months is probably when you''ll start to notice WG yellowing, but this varies based on your activities, body chemistry, who knows. I recently read on here that someone with 18k WG was getting it dipped every 3 months, which seemed really frequent to me, so I''m not sure that the differences you''re noticing are because one is 14k and the other is 18k, but I could be wrong.

 

[fabcrab]

wow every 3 months??? That seems really frequent. Well, I was in the jewelry store and someone said on average it takes like 4 years to get it dipped so I just assumed that was the norm.

 

[evolve]

For the professional/vendors: Is there a way to mix other metal element to stop the yellow appearance?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 12/28/2007 5:10:55 PM
Author: evolve
For the professional/vendors: Is there a way to mix other metal element to stop the yellow appearance?

yes but doing it without nickel is the huge problem.
Stuller with their x1 alloy has come up with one that stays white and while it has nickel releases very little of it so there is a smaller chance of a reaction.
There are other alloys out there but the X1 is likely the only one with a track record.
I like the 14k x1 for heads it is holding up awesomely on wifey2b's ring and never needs plating.
But I prefer yellow gold for the band. (hers is a yg band/14k x1 head)

To answer the main question there is no answer too it.
There are hundreds of different alloys of both 14k and 18k that all have different properties.
Then you add in the quality and purity of the plating and who can say... no one....

 

[fabcrab]

where do you go to get the x1 alloy applied? Plus does it cost more than "standard" plating?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 12/28/2007 5:40:23 PM
Author: fabcrab
where do you go to get the x1 alloy applied? Plus does it cost more than ''standard'' plating?

The ring would have too be made of it.
Its an alloy not a plating.

 

[evolve]

I assume for those small fingers ladies, custom size will need to start from scratch.

So from this point, can X1 be added during the process of pouring the metal?

And how much (%) of X1 to prevent it from turning yellow?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 12/28/2007 5:51:37 PM
Author: evolve
I assume for those small fingers ladies, custom size will need to start from scratch.

So from this point, can X1 be added during the process of pouring the metal?

And how much (%) of X1 to prevent it from turning yellow?

The x1 alloy part gold part nickel and part something else in a secret mix, it would be melted then cast or hand formed or die struck too make the ring.
Any good custom shop should be able to make a ring with the x1 alloy.

14kX1 is 58% Gold
18kX1 is 75% Gold

14kx1 in my experience never needs plating.
18kX1 if someone is very super sensitive too tint might want it plated but for most people it will never need it. If it is plated because of the whiteness of the alloy itself the thin parts of the plating wouldn't show as much and require it too be plated less.

To my eyes neither needs plating
The 18kX1 even next too the 14kX1 is very white.

 

[evolve]

Date: 12/28/2007 6:00:23 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 12/28/2007 5:51:37 PM

Author: evolve

I assume for those small fingers ladies, custom size will need to start from scratch.


So from this point, can X1 be added during the process of pouring the metal?


And how much (%) of X1 to prevent it from turning yellow?

The x1 alloy part gold part nickel and part something else in a secret mix, it would be melted then cast or hand formed or die struck too make the ring.

Any good custom shop should be able to make a ring with the x1 alloy.


14kX1 is 58% Gold

18kX1 is 75% Gold

Thank you for the tip!

 

[fabcrab]

Thanks for the info I''m learning a lot

 

[strmrdr]

your welcome, glad too be of service.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

To answer the original question, I have two 18k wg rings that I have had for more than a year. One has absolutely no sign of wear of the rhodium at all. The other seems to have lost it''s rhodium, and it has the slightest tint of yellow gold. Since that band is all diamonds across the top, I do not plan to replate it, unless maybe I do it when and if the other ring ever needs it.

So I don''t think it''s necessarily an issue of the 14 or 18k, I think it is probably more a factor of the quality of rhodium plating to begin with. And there is no way to know if a ring will need replating after 3 months or 3 years.

 

[LitigatorChick]

Date: 12/28/2007 5:10:55 PM
Author: evolve
For the professional/vendors: Is there a way to mix other metal element to stop the yellow appearance?

What about 19K white gold? I just had my 3 stone ring custom made in 19K white gold which does not need to be rhodium plated to maintain its whiteness. I have just had my ring for a short time, so time will tell!!!